Cecily[1][2] Louise "Cicely" Tyson (December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021) was an American actress known for her portrayal of strong African-American women.[9][10] Tyson received various awards including three Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Tony Award, an Honorary Academy Award, and a Peabody Award.
She garnered widespread attention and critical acclaim for her performance as Rebecca Morgan in Sounder (1972), for which she was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Actress and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Tyson's portrayal of the title role in the 1974 television film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman won her two Emmy Awards and a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She received another Emmy Award nomination for her role as Binta in the acclaimed series Roots (1977).